1.—4

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Report on Petition of Henare te Pukuatua. The petitioner states that a sum of £250 has been saddled upon him, and prays the House to inquire into his affliction. The petition is somewhat vague, as no further particulars are given. I am directed to report as follows: —The Committee regret that the time at their disposal has not been sufficient to enable them to make such inquiries as would justify them in reporting an opinion on the subject-matter of this petition. John Brtce, 25th October, 1876. Chairman. [Translation.] Ko te Kupu a te Komiti mo runga i te Pukapuka-inoi a Henare te Pukuatua. E ki ana to kai-inoi kua whakataimahatia ki runga ki a ia tetahi moni c £250 a c inoi ana ia kite Whare kia kimihia tona mate. Kahore i tino marama nga kupu ote Pukapuka-inoi kahore he tikanga ke atu i whakaaturia hei whakamarama. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei atu kite Whare: —E pouri ana te Komiti notemea kahore ratou i whai taima kite te uiui i nga tikanga c taea ai c ratou te whakaputa i tetahi whakaaro ma ratou mo runga i nga kupu o tenei pukapuka-inoi. John Brtce, Oketopa 25, 1876. Tumuaki.

Report on Petition of Meiha Kepa te Rangihiwinui. The petitioner states that the Ngarauru tribe having been in rebellion was punished by the confiscation of their lands; but that the petitioner and his tribe, who have always been loyal, have claims upon the land so confiscated. The petitioner further alleges that an award of 400 acres of land in the Waitotara District was made to him in satisfaction of such claims, but that it was afterwards discovered that the land had been leased to a Mr. Vincent, and that complications, recited in the petition, arose therefrom. The petitioner states that he agreed to an arrangement whereby Vincent was to be regarded as his tenant, and that he has been called on by the executors of the late Mr. Vincent to execute a lease, but, while willing to carry out the arrangement made, thinks that a Crown grant should first be issued to him. I am directed to report as follows: —The Committee regret that the time at their disposal has not been sufficient to enable them to make such inquiries as would justify them in reporting an opinion on the subject-matter of this petition. John Brtce, 25th October, 1876. Chairman. [Translation.] Ko te Kupu a te Komiti mo runga i te Pukapuka-inoi a Meiha Kepa te Rangihiwinui. E ki ana te kai-inoi i uru te iwi Ngarauru kite mau patu ki a te Kuini a whiua ana ratou i runga i te tangohanga o o ratou whenua, otiia he tangata piri pono tonu te kai-inoi ratou ko tona iwi ki ate Kuini, a c whai tikanga ana ratou ki aua whenua i tangohia ra. E ki ana hoki te kai-inoi i whakataua ki a ia tetahi whenua i te takiwa o Waitotara, c 400 eka, hei whakaea i aua tikanga engari no muri iho ka kitea kua oti taua whenua te riihi ki tetahi Pakeha ko Vincent te ingoa a no reira ka tupu ake nga raruraru kua oti to whakaatu i roto i te pukapuka-inoi. E ki ana te kai-inoi i whakaae ia ki tetahi tikanga c whakaarohia ai he kai re ti ia ki a Vincent a kua tono ki a ia nga kai-whakahaere a Vincent kua mate nei kia tuhi ia i tona ingoa kite pukapuka riihi. engari i te mea c whakaae ana ano ia kite whakaoti i te whakariteritenga c mahara aua ia me matua whakaputa te Karauna karaati ki a ia. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei atu kite Whare:—E pouri ana te Komiti notemea kahore ratou i w rhai taima kite uiui i nga tikanga c taea ai c ratou te whakaputa i tetahi whakaaro ma ratou mo runga i nga kupu o tenei pukapuka-inoi. John Brtce, Oketopa 25, 1876. Tumuaki.

Report on Petition (No. 5) of Hirini Taiwhanga and 2 Others. The petitioners complain that due attention was not given to a petition of the Ngapuhi tribe, sent to Parliament in 1874, against the repeal of " The Native Lands Act 1865," against which they allege no fault was found during the eight years of its existence, except in the case of the foolish Maoris of Napier. They state that the Native Act of 1873 has worked badly, causing distress to the people and wasting the public money. They pray for the repeal of the Act of 1873, and think that if it is continued in operation for another year the people will die. I am directed to report as follows: —The Committee regret that the time at their disposal has not been sufficient to enable them to make such inquiries as would justify them in reporting an opinion on the subject-matter of this petition. John Brtce, 25th October, 1876. Chairman.